Best time to visit Sapa

WHEN TO VISIT

The best time to visit Sapa is from March to May and from September to November. At these times, the weather is relatively stable with sunny days and cool nights. The first period is the fall time. At this time of the year, the weather is very comfortable for tourism. It is dry, clear with much sunshine. The view of Sapa’s terraces is at its best between September and October. The cool and dry weather with the stable temperature makes it the perfect time for trekking and photos.

In the summer, although the weather is quite warm, it is not as hot as other regions in Vietnam. If you spend time in this town in the period between April and May, you will have the chance to see the wonderful scenes of many colorful flowers and green fields there. Many Vietnamese visit Sapa after the Lunar New Year to admire the blossoming cherry trees.

In the winter, from December to February, the weather in Sapa becomes very cold, especially at night. However, in return, visitors will have the opportunity to watch the sunrise over the valley in the morning. In recent years, there is snow in Sapa. If you have chance to travel to this picturesque town on this occasion, you will definitely see quite a romance scene. However, this is the reason why Sapa is always crowded at this time of the year.

Summer Time in Sapa
 

MONTH BY MONTH

Sapa not only owns a special and unique terrain but also boasts a very distinctly sub-tropical climate which is rarely experienced in a tropical country like Vietnam. Located in the northern mountainous area, Sapa is endowed with favorable conditions for the growth of a versatile fauna and flora.

Sapa features a low average temperature of only 15°C. Winter in Sapa often lasts from December to February when the weather can become extremely cold, even leading to snow falling sometimes. This is also a fascinating feature which makes Sapa even more appealing to visitors. During these rare high peaks, the town is inundated by flocks of tourists both foreign and domestic longing to witness snow and make a life-time memory.

 In December, Sapa is cold and foggy with ocassional sunny days when the view is much better. Temperature sometimes drops below freezing point while all the town seems to be covered in ice, creating such a picturesque scene to contemplate. 

January is often the coldest month in Sapa when the weather seems to be foggy and cloudy all the time. Daily mean temperature is only 8°C, providing an exciting opportunity for one who can endure the coldness.  The weather gets a little warmer in February, as the potential sign of an upcomming spring.

From March till May, Sapa enjoys a warm and fresh springtime when new buds start sprouting on the trees and the town is ornamented with cherry blossom. There come more sunny days and fresh air in March,creating the ideal ambiance for trekking and accessing remote hill tribes to get an insight into their dinstinctive traditions and lifestyles. The daily mean temperature experiences a significant increase of approximately 5°C compared with the previous two months. 

April in Sapa manifests beautiful weather with more sunshine, low level of humidity and reasonable precipitation. As the weather sometimes varies dramatically during the day, tourists with be rewarded with phenomenal chance to witness four seasons throughout the day.

Scorching hot weather and burning sunshine, the typical summer elements witnessed in other parts of Vietnam, are totally absent there in summer lasting from June to August. Sapa highlights a stably cool summer with daily temperature ranging from 20 to 25°C and night temperature hovering around 15°C. However, this is also the rainy season in Sapa so tourists may not enjoy the most favorable conditions for a stroll around this lovely town.The highest rainfall of 480 mm is recorded in July. The rains usually come suddenly and briefly so be well prepared with umbrella and raincoat. While the temperature remains quite stable in August, it is not considered the ideal time to visit Sapa as it is the peak month of rain and typhoons.

Along with the spring, fall is a highly recommended time to visit Sapa. The level of rainfall reduces considerably, letting the weather become drier and milder. Moderate level of precipitation combines with stably cool temperature make falltime such a delight to admire the beauty of Sapa. Since the nice weather continues in November with slightly lower temperature, Sapa also welcomes a lot of tourists during this time